Under the Dome review: Season 1 finale

The monarch has been crowned

No surprises here. The monarch revelation isn't all that game-changing within the town since we don't know her purpose. What is most interesting about the finale is a message that comes from Alice. Don't get too excited, she isn't back from the dead.

We knew not to hold our breath Monday night for anything really shocking or game-changing on the show. Under the Dome isn't really a show that gives you big answers. Instead, it coughs something out every couple episodes, but the answers usually just bring more questions. Monday night's season finale was no different. The show, after all, has been renewed for Season 2.

The monarch is crowned, and it's... Julia.

The dome is covered in a dark curtain, blocking out all light

Alice appears to Norrie. But it isn't really Alice, just an other being (alien?) filling her in on the purpose of the dome.

Turns out, the dome wasn't created as a punishment but to protect the town.

Julia throws the egg into the lake, which causes pink stars to fall and a big ball of light to explode throughout the town.

What was really surprising is that no one died in the episode. The show is a bit like watching a game of chess. Not interesting per se, but there are moments when a key piece is knocked out, which keeps you watching to see who'll be next.

In fact, Julia makes a startling recovery and dashes off to save her precious Barbie (Mike Vogel). She really isn't fazed that he killed her husband. I guess under a dome, you can't really be too picky about your partner. And he's cute, after all.

A butterfly is born

The butterfly hatches and Linda freaks out.

Linda declares the mini dome as police property. She calls Big Jim and tells him what she's found. Oh, Linda... she's a special one. Then the butterfly starts freaking out and bashing itself against the sides of the dome. As it tries to get out, black spots appear and spread over the mini dome. The same thing starts to happen to the big dome as a black curtain falls over the town.

In a race to keep the mini dome away from Big Jim, the kids put their hands on it as it begins to glow. The mini dome falls apart into dirt, leaving the egg and the butterfly dead on the ground. The kids were too late to save the monarch. Or were they? Suddenly, the butterfly begins to move. Then it flies.

The butterfly drifts over to Barbie, and Joe takes it as a sign that Barbie has been chosen as the monarch. But wait! The egg begins to glow then shake. The shaking is so strong it threatens to collapse the whole building. But Julia picks up the egg, and it stops. She is the real monarch. Unfortunately, it's hard to really feel vested with this revelation. We know nothing about what it means to be the monarch so how are we supposed to care who it is?

Big Jim gets a new toy

Big Jim gives another speech as frightened people gather at the church because the dome has gone dark, blocking out the sun. It's another "we're all in this together" pick-me-up.

Then he goes to build a noose with Phil's help. Big Jim plans to hang Barbie.

Back at the barn, Linda finds the paintings Junior's mother did and asks Big Jim what "the pink stars are falling in lines" means. Big Jim recognizes the saying as something from his wife.

Junior tries to take the egg for his father. Julia hands it off to Angie and the girls run while Barbie and Junior fight.

Pinks stars fall in lines

Norrie asks the dome what they should do next and Alice appears. Only it isn't Alice. It's some kind of other being (aliens?) that explains they've taken on human likeness to make themselves more familiar. She tells them the dome wasn't meant as punishment. It was meant to protect the town, but she won't tell them from what. There has to be a Season 2, after all.